Turkish gem Arda Guler may consider leaving Real Madrid as frustration grows over limited opportunities under Carlo Ancelotti.
The talent of Arda Guler is undeniable; the world has already witnessed what he is capable of during his time at Fenerbahce and every time he takes the field for the Turkish national team. Despite that, his big-money move to the Santiago Bernabeu has not really worked out.
The 20-year-old has not been able to establish himself as a key figure under Carlo Ancelotti. The lack of minutes is adding to his frustration, and quite a few reports have suggested that he could choose to part ways with the Spanish giants at the end of the season.
Arda Guler’s time at Real Madrid in numbers
Guler came up the ranks at Fenerbahce and made his first team debut at the age of just 16. After a two-year-long spell with their first team, he ended up making the move to Real Madrid as an 18-year-old.
The Spanish giants forked out around €20 million to add him to their ranks. The youngster did not have the best of starts to life at his new club, as he was forced to watch from the sidelines because of an injury. Guler waited over 180 days to make his debut.
After an injury-plagued first half of the 2023/24 season, Arda Guler spent most of the second half watching from the bench. He got an extended run in the team towards the end of the season. The 20-year-old started in four out of their last six league games, and he even contributed towards five goals.
Despite being involved in just 13 games and racking up less than 500 minutes of first-team action, the incredible run towards the end of the season gave fans hope that Guler would turn things around in the 2024/25 season.
While he has been fit for the entire campaign and has been involved in 30 games, the Turkish gem has been on the pitch for just over 1,000 minutes, which has not helped his cause. Guler has contributed towards eight goals in his limited opportunities, but he hasn’t really had the kind of run he would have liked.
Carlo Ancelotti and his coaching staff have not been impressed with his performances, which is one of the major reasons why he has not been called into action in the majority of their matches of late. They feel he still needs time to adjust to the demands at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Guler’s standing in Madrid’s pecking order
Arda Guler prefers playing as a right-winger or a no. 10, but he can even feature as a central midfielder if needed. While his versatility has given Ancelotti a lot of options, the 20-year-old is way down the pecking order in all three of those positions.
On the right flank, Rodrygo Goes is the first choice, with Brahim Díaz as his backup. In the number ten role, Jude Bellingham is the preferred option, with Diaz also serving as his deputy. When it comes to central midfield, everyone on their squad seems to be ahead of Guler in the pecking order.
Modric’s renewal could further stall Arda Guler’s progress
When Los Blancos signed the Fenerbahce graduate, the initial idea was that he could help replace Modric in the long run. But, over the years, the team in white have realised that the 20-year-old is not really a deep-lying playmaker; rather, he is someone who loves to stay close to attackers and link up with them to do the damage.
Even though Arda Guler is not a like-for-like replacement for Modric, the 39-year-old’s continuity is hampering his progress. While he might no longer be a regular feature in the XI, the Croatian international remains a very important part of Ancelotti’s team.
He has been involved in 44 matches and has racked up over 2,000 minutes of first-team action. With his contract running out, there was a general belief that it could result in Guler getting more minutes. But recent reports suggest Modric has no intentions of retiring and would love to continue at Madrid for another season.
The team in white are seriously considering offering him another extension. Guler might not be directly competing with Modric for a place in the XI, but his presence does have an effect on the number of minutes and the role the Turkish international could have.
The risk of stagnation
Arda Guler might have undeniable talent, but he needs to have regular minutes to continue his development as a player. Having had just around 1,500 minutes of first-team action over the last two seasons, the Turkish gem certainly needs more game time to ensure he can fulfil his potential.
At 20, Guler is still young, but a few his age are already regulars at Real Madrid, while others were key starters at the same stage. He might not be ready to start games for the Spanish giants, but he certainly needs regular minutes to get better.
Going forward, the Turkish international is among the best, but his defensive game remains a concern. He still lacks a complete understanding of his off-the-ball duties — something he can only refine with regular game time.
A move away could be in his best interest
Arda Guler dreams of making it happen at Real Madrid, and he does not intend to choose an easy way out. The Turkish international wants to work hard and establish himself as a key figure in the team.
But given how things have panned out over the last two years and the fact that Real Madrid will more or less have the same players in the final third next season, there is no real opening for the Fenerbahce graduate. As a result, a move away will only benefit him.
He could choose to part ways on a temporary basis or could even look to secure a permanent transfer away from the club to help revive his career. Los Blancos would not mind a straightforward loan, but if they sanction a permanent transfer, a buy-back clause is likely.
The club has great faith in the 20-year-old and ideally wants him to succeed at Real Madrid. If he becomes available, clubs across Europe will line up for his signature, eager to add a talent of his calibre to their squad.
